New & Used 2026 Ford Explorer for Sale nearCarolina Beach, NC

Compare 2026 Ford Explorer Trims

The Explorer lineup offers a range of options from budget-friendly trims to powerful performance models, catering to various needs and preferences.

• Starting at $36,320
• Best MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Most Popular: ST AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

Active RWD — "Who It's For"

The Active RWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option with essential features without paying for luxury upgrades.

• Avg. market price: $36,320 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Inventory: 484 listings
• View Active RWD listings

Active AWD — "Who It's For"

The Active AWD is the choice for those seeking all-wheel drive capabilities without a significant price increase, making it a practical option.

• Avg. market price: $41,670 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 919 listings
• View Active AWD listings

ST-Line RWD — "Who It's For"

The ST-Line RWD is ideal for shoppers who want a well-rounded vehicle with modern features without stepping up to the higher trims.

• Avg. market price: $41,693 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 29 hwy
• Inventory: 419 listings
• View ST-Line RWD listings

ST-Line AWD — "Who It's For"

The ST-Line AWD is perfect for those who desire the benefits of all-wheel drive along with a comprehensive set of features at a reasonable price.

• Avg. market price: $43,037 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,724 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View ST-Line AWD listings

Police Interceptor Utility AWD — "Who It's For"

The Police Interceptor Utility AWD is suited for buyers looking for a rugged vehicle with enhanced safety features, often used in law enforcement.

• Avg. market price: $45,758 (updated weekly)
• Inventory: 662 listings
• View Police Interceptor Utility AWD listings

Tremor AWD — "Who It's For"

The Tremor AWD is for those who want a sportier experience with off-road capabilities, though availability may be limited.

• Avg. market price: $53,302 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 160 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View Tremor AWD listings

Platinum AWD — "Who It's For"

The Platinum AWD is the choice for luxury seekers who want a high-end experience with advanced features and a spacious interior.

• Avg. market price: $51,361 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 1,640 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Platinum AWD listings

ST AWD — "Who It's For"

The ST AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a powerful engine and a full suite of features for a thrilling driving experience.

• Avg. market price: $55,242 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 2,899 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View ST AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — ST AWD

With 2,899 active listings, the ST AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse ST AWD listings

Best Budget Option — Active RWD

At $36,320 avg market price — below the lineup median of $44,397 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse Active RWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — Active RWD

The Active RWD offers the best fuel efficiency in the lineup with 20/29 MPG.

Browse Active RWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer a good car?

Yes — the 2026 Ford Explorer earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 10/10.

It fits your needs best if you want a family-friendly midsize three-row crossover with comfortable manners and strong safety credentials, rather than a flashy design or a dramatic cabin. Ford kept the formula largely unchanged for 2026, and the biggest update is the return of the Tremor model, which adds a more rugged, off-road-focused option. The trade-offs are that it can feel bland in styling and nondescript inside, and it gets expensive with options.

The market signal is solid, with 36.8% of listings priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The Explorer’s reliability case is built around its familiar, carryover nature for 2026 and its role as a practical family SUV. Ford’s powertrains and 10-speed automatic are described as confident and effective, and the cabin tech and driver-assist systems are well integrated. The performance notes also point to a comfortable ride and composed highway behavior, which usually matters in long-term ownership because it suggests the vehicle is not being asked to work outside its comfort zone.

Ford also includes a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that higher-spec versions can become costly to maintain and repair once options and complexity pile up.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Ford Explorer?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a vehicle history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re looking at a higher-trim or heavily optioned example. Focus on overall condition, because the Explorer’s value proposition can change quickly once wear, cosmetic issues, or expensive equipment problems enter the picture. If you want the Tremor or a V6 model, make sure the equipment and condition justify the price premium.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Active is the base model, the Platinum is the most luxurious, and the ST-Line and ST lean more toward on-road style. The Active has basic cloth seats and an unbranded six-speaker audio system, while higher trims add more upscale materials and a 10-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen system. The Tremor is the rugged choice, with all-terrain tires, a raised ride height, and off-road lighting.
• Powertrain: The standard engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 is available on the Tremor and standard on the ST, with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. Both engines use a 10-speed automatic, and the V6 is the one to target if you want stronger passing power.
• Safety package: CoPilot 360+ on Active models includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and safety-exit assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic braking, post-collision braking, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims get CoPilot 360 2.0, which adds the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.
• Infotainment: All models get a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Google Maps, Google Play Store, and SiriusXM with 360L. The Active trim does not get the third-row USB-C ports or the upgraded audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The turbo-four is rated at 24 mpg combined with RWD and 23 mpg combined with AWD. V6 models are rated at 21 mpg combined with RWD and lose 1 mpg combined with AWD. The Tremor is rated at 21 mpg combined with the inline-four and 19 mpg combined with the V6.

Which 2026 Ford Explorer trim should I buy?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is offered in 5 trim levels: Active, ST-Line, Platinum, ST, Tremor.

Here's the short version:

• Active: This is the value starting point if you want the Explorer’s core family-SUV strengths without paying for extras. It gets the standard turbo-four, the full-size touchscreen and digital cluster, and the main CoPilot 360+ safety suite, but it also has the most basic audio setup and fewer convenience features than the higher trims.
• ST-Line: This is the better-looking step up if you want a more dressed-up Explorer without jumping to the luxury or performance models. It adds more style and equipment than Active, while staying closer to the mainstream side of the lineup.
• Platinum: Choose this if you want the most luxurious Explorer. It’s the trim that leans hardest into comfort and upscale materials, and it’s the one to consider if interior polish matters most to you.
• ST: This is the performance-oriented road model. It gets the twin-turbo V6 and sport-tuned suspension with beefier brakes, so it’s the one to buy if you want the strongest on-road pace and the most personality.
• Tremor: This is the best choice if you want the most capability and the most distinctive character. It adds the off-road-focused hardware, the V6 is available, and it’s the trim that best matches the 2026 Explorer’s new rugged angle.

Higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0, including the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Ford Explorer?

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, so it makes sense to shop carefully and compare examples.

• Deal availability: 36.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 4,619 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 94.6% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer safe?

The 2026 Ford Explorer is a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and earns five-star ratings from NHTSA, with five-star ratings in frontal and side crash testing and a four-star rating in rollover testing.

It earns a 10/10 safety score from our experts.

The standard CoPilot 360+ package on Active models includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and safety-exit assist, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic braking, post-collision braking, and traffic sign recognition. Higher trims add CoPilot 360 2.0, which brings the 360-degree camera system, predictive speed assist, and road-edge detection.

One caveat is that the BlueCruise hands-free system is still a driver-assist feature, not a substitute for attention, and the rollover score is lower than the other NHTSA results.

Should I buy a 2026 Ford Explorer or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2026 if:

• 36.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 94.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The Tremor returns for 2026, adding the Explorer’s most rugged off-road-focused setup.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It brings a broader set of updates, including more modern infotainment and safety tech.

The bottom line: The 2026 is the better pick if you want the latest Explorer with the Tremor option and strong safety credentials. If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, the 2025 is worth a look because it delivers many of the same core strengths and may cost less on the used market.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 20, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.